. >> reporter: one part of the fiscal cliff drama is across-the-board government spending cuts. today every member of the house received a letter ordering them to impose 11% across the board cuts to their own budget. john boehner will meet with reporters in a couple of hours and president obama will do some interviews with stations across the country. >> also in washington is republican senator jim demint of south carolina. senator, good morning. >> good morning, charlie. >> senator, what do you think is going to happen? >> i wish i knew. most of us here are not in the loop of what they're discussing. but i do know this, that this government doesn't need more money, this country needs less government. to take more money out of the real economy and give it to politicians and bureaucrats, no matter who you take it from, is not going to help the middle class or anyone else. the president's proposal clearly is not a plan, it's not a solution. it will fund the government for a few days. we all realize it's a political trophy, it's not a solution. but the president has been campaignin